Automobile-door latch



D. B. LAUZON.

AUTOMOBILE DOOR LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, 1920.

1,394,681, Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

INVENTOI? WITIVE8$E8 p 5 fiUZO/Y DUFFA B. LAUZON, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MINNESOTA.

AUTOMOBILE-DOOR LATCH.

1,394,681. Application filed June 9,

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that I, DUFFA B. LAUzoN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Grand Rapids, in the county of Itasca and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile-Door Latches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to the class of locks and latches, and more particularly to an improved latch and operating device therefor.

More especially, the invention has reference to an improved door latch for automobiles, the principal object of the device being to do away with the side motion in pushing the latch to open the same, thus permitting the opening of the door with one motion from the outside or the inside of the car.

The invention further contemplates an im proved and simple construction which obviates the protruding handle present on types of latches now employed, and using a lat-' erally swinging lever disposed to operate in a plane parallel to the door, and which necessitates two distinct motions in the opening of the door, in addition to catching in ones clothing and being otherwise objectionable.

Other and further objects of my invention will become readily apparent to persons skilled in the art, from a consideration of the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein V Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improvedautomobile door latch as applied to a door, the door bein indicated in phantom,

and a portion of t e latch beinggbroken away to show the latch bolt,

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the latch, and Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3 30f Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, in which like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, my improved automobile door latch is shown as comprising a casing including a front attaching plate 10 preferably of rectangular outline having one end 11 directed at right angles with respect thereto and each portion being formed with openings 12 for receiving screws or the like, in

order that the device may be secured in Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 25, 1921. 1920. Serial No. 387,659.

position. Of course, it is to be understood that the device may be suitably positioned upon a door or other closure in connection with which it is used, but in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, the device is set within the door indicated at 13 so as to be practically hidden from view, the portion 11 being disposed at one edge of the door and otherwise, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

Mounted horizontally and longitudinally at the back of the plate 10 is a latch casing proper let, preferably of rectangular cross section and comprising an open receptacle of sheet metal or'the like, provided at its edges with rivets 15 engaging corresponding slots in the front plate 10, in order that the device may be held in assembled relation. This casing is designed to receive a latch bolt 16 slidable therein and the angular end portion 11 is provided with an opening 17 through which the reduced portion 18 of the bolt projects, said portion being beveled in the usual manner for cooperation with a keeper as is common in the art. This reduced formation produces shoulders 19 above and below, for engagement with the interior surface of the front wall 11, in order to limit the projection of the bolt under the action of an expansible helical spring 20 which is mounted on a reduced and preferably circular'extension 21 at the inner end of the latch bolt 16 and which is designed for free movement within the casing 14 suilicient to permit the bolt to be retracted or projected. The reduced circular portion or shank21 projects from the inner end of the latch bolt 16 medially of the width thereof and is engaged by the spring 20 which has one end disposed against the inner end of the latch bolt and the other end disposed against the end wall 2:2 of the casing 1 1 in order to exert pressure tending to project the latch bolt in the manner shown in full lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings, but adapted to permit retraction thereof in the manner shown in dotted lines in said view.

The bolt is further provided with a longitudinal slot 23 disposed to normally register with an opening 24 in the front portion 10 of the casing when the bolt is projected under the action of its spring, that is, at the inner end thereof, in which is rotatably mounted roller or other anti-friction mem her 25 upon a vertical pivot 26 suitably disposed through the top and bottom portions of the latch bolt. The outer end of the opening or slot 28 is disposed behind the front wall 10 except when the latch bolt is shifted to retract the sameyas shown in dotted lines in Figure 3 of the drawings.

In order to permit the bolt to be retracted, and with a natural motion such as required in opening the door, and in order to do away with the side-motion in pushing the latch to open the same, in accordance with the present types of door latches, as used on automobile doors, so as to permit the open ing of the door with one motion instead of two or more, there is pivoted to the lower.

portion of the casing at the front portion 10, a lever or arm 27, the connection being of the usual hinge butt type. For this purpose, the lower edge of the casing front is provided with spaced hinge butts or sleeves 28, which are turned up from the lower edge thereof and adapted to pivotally retain the lever or arm 27 therebetween through the medium of a. sleeve portion or butt 29 in con junction with a pivot pin or pintle 30, thus permitting pivotal movement of the lever in a limited arc, restrained beneath a stop member or guard 31, which is suitably riveted or otherwise secured to the front portion of the case.

Also, as illustrated, the lever is directed upwardly and outwardly at its lower portion, and its upper portion extends vertically at an obtuse angle with respect thereto, the upper end being formed with or having secured thereto, a gripping portion or handle 32 of hard rubber, metal or otherwise suitably formed. As shown, the upper end of the strip forming the lever 27, which is of sufficiently heavy sheet metal, is provided with a cross arm or opposite extensions 33 to which is detachably secured thehard rubber handle or gripping portion 32 preferably of arcuate formation with the concaved edge thereof disposed uppermost and the convex ec ge thereof disposed lowermost and tapered so as to operate in a slot 34: in the door 13, so that in addition to the latch bolt,

the handle or gripping portion is the only part of the device which projects without the door, and avoids unsightly appearance, while still producing a latch of practical operating features and durability of construction and design. The gripping portion or handle 32 is provided with a series of depressions or hollowed out finger seats 35 to receive and prevent slipping of the fingers when applied to open the door by retracting the bolt due to a transverse movement of the lever with respect to the thickness of the door instead of in a plane parallel to the door and side of the car. The lower portion 27 of the lever is provided at its inner side with a triangular or wedge shaped block 36 riveted or otherwise attached thereto or formed therewith, as indicated at 37 and disposed in juxtaposition to the slot 23 but nor- 'result in the lever being forced outwardly limited by the stop keeper or guard .31, .by engagement of the roller 25 with the beveled or diagonal inner face of the block 36. However, when it is desired to retract the bolt from the full lineposition shown inFigs. l and 2 of the drawings and also as shown in Fig. 3, to thedotted line position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the lever is pressed inwardly to cause the block 36 to act against the roller 35, thus shifting the bolt longitudinally against the action of the spring 20, the roller serving to reduce the friction between the parts. In this manner, the handle 32 may be actuated from the inside of the car or from the outside, by grippingover the top edge of the door 13 anddepressingthe handle and lever toward the outside of the car, the lever, upon being released, permitting the projection, of the bolt of the latch automatically under the action of the expansible spring 20 so thatit will engage its keeper carried by the cooperating part of the side of the car or other suitablepart, to which thedevice is applied in use.

It will be seen that inasmuch as the handle is made to project through a slot in'the door or closure, or from the side of the car body, in case the keeper is app-liedto the door, in a reverse manner from that heretofore described, the rounding formation thereof, will prevent the projection of protruding parts such as would be likely to catch in. ones clothing or result in the usual objections, especially to the ordinary form of latch employing a handle or lever having a side motion instead of a natural motion as required in opening the door. The gripping portion of the handle may be of hard rubber or other suitable material and ,the depressions therein, serve to receive the fingers in such a manner as to insure that sufficient pressure may be exerted'thereon and against the lever, in order to actuate the device to retract the latch bolt. It will also be-observed from Fig. 3 of the drawings, that the peak or tapered inner extremity of the angle of the block 36 comes in contact with the roller set in the groove or slot 23 in the latch I bolt and when the lever is operated so that the base of the angle is disposed againstthe roller, the latch bolt will be retracted to clear the keeper whereby the door may be e opened. When the door is closed, the keeper will be automatically engaged by'the latch bolt, due to the beveled formation of the latter, as is common in the art. The latch bolt is so fitted within its case, as to operate with ease, suflicient clearance being allowed on all four sides for this purpose. In this way, the employment of an extraordinary strong spring is obviated.

In view of the foregoing, it is thought that the operation of the device will be readily understood and in view of the simplicity and practical value, that it will commend itself to those skilled in the art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A door latch comprising a casing having an attaching plate, a bolt slidable in the casing, a spring normally projecting the bolt and adapted to permit retraction thereof, and an operating lever pivotally carried by the plate and movably engageable with the latch bolt to retract the same by movement in a plane at right angles to the bolt and door, said lever being pivoted at its gower end and being accommodated in the oor.

2. A door latch comprising a casing having an attaching plate, a bolt slidable in the casing, a spring normally projecting the bolt and adapted to permit retraction thereof, means to limit the projection of the bolt, said bolt having a longitudinal slot therein, a lever pivoted to the lower portion of the casing and plate and having a beveled block for engagement in said slot, and an antifriction member in the slot for contact by the beveled edge of the block whereby movement or" the lever toward the bolt will retract the latter.

3. An automobile door latch comprising an attaching plate having a portion at right angles thereto provided with a slot, a latch bolt having a reduced portion adapted to project through said slot, a casing for slidably engaging said latch bolt, spring means tending to project said bolt and permitting retraction thereof, said bolt being provided with a longitudinal slot, an anti-friction membermounted in one end of said slot, a lever pivoted to the lower portion of the plate, means carried by the plate'to limit the outward movement of the lever, said lever being provided with a triangular block projecting inwardly therefrom to engage said anti-friction member whereby movement of the lever at right angles to the door will retract the bolt, said spring serving to project. the bolt and move the lever outwardly when the latter is released, and a gripping portion on the lever.

4:. An automobile door latch comprising the combination with a door having a casing mounted therein and provided with a slot at the inside; of a slidable latch bolt mounted in said casing, means normally projecting said bolt, the lower portion of the casing being provided with a pivot, an angular lever mounted on said pivot, means carried by the casing to limit movements of the lever away from the same, cooperating anti-friction means between the lever and the latch bolt for retracting the bolt upon depression of the lever, and an arcuate handle at the upper end of the lever and fitted in the slot of the door to project therefrom and adapted to be;g:jdepressed for retracting the bolt, said gripping portion being provided with finger depressions.

5. A door latch comprising a casing, a bolt slidable in the casing, means normally projecting the bolt, and an operating lever pivotally carried by the casing and movably associated with the latch bolt to retract the same by movement in a plane at right angles to the path of movement of the bolt.

6. A latch of the class described comprising acasing, a bolt slidable in the casing, means urging the bolt into projected position, a lever pivoted adjacent to the bolt to swing at right angles to the movement direction thereof, said lever being pivoted in a plane parallel to the bolt, and meanscarried by the lever and operatively engaging the bolt upon repression of the lever in one direction on its pivot axis, said lever being normally returned to its initial position.

DUFFA B. LAUZON. 

